As a proud member of the San Diego Zoo, I receive their annual calendar that showcases a different animal resident every month. This June’s poster fauna was a bird named “Handsome.” But it was no ordinary bird. It’s enormous, hooked beak and wide eyes gave this avian a prehistoric appearance that threaded the needle between menacing and goofy. More than that, Handsome instantly reminded me of Skyward Sword, and for good reason.
Skyward Sword is centered on an isle floating miles above the surface. Each adult resident of Skyloft is bonded to an enormous bird called a Loftwing, which they use to traverse the skies. Although Loftwings come in many colors and often share physical characteristics with their person, they all have big, round eyes and gigantic beaks with a hook on the upper tip. To anyone familiar with a particular bird from eastern Africa, the Loftwings’ distinctive appearance is instantly recognizable.
The shoebill, also known as the whalehead, is a unique bird native to swamp lands ranging from South Sudan to Zambia. Both names are descriptors of its most conspicuous feature: its humongous, hooked beak. Adult shoebills can grow up to five feet tall with a wingspan of over eight feet. While Loftwings come in various colors, shoebills are gray or grayish-blue. They put their large beaks to work by scrounging through muddy waters for large lungfish, catfish, and sometimes even baby crocodiles. This behemoth bird is nothing to trifle with!
If it wasn’t clear from the striking similarities, Nintendo designer Manabu Hiraoka confirmed that shoebills served as the inspiration for the Loftwing’s design in Hyrule Historia. Hiraoka did not explain why they focused on the shoebill. One Zelda Universe forum user asserts it came from a trip Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma and his son took to a local zoo. It wouldn’t be the first time a field trip led to a major Zelda innovation, or the first time Aonuma’s children inspired a primary Zelda mechanic.
I have a separate theory. Hiraoka explained that by having Link ride a Crimson Loftwing, Skyward Sword provided the explanation for the red bird crest on the Hylian Shield. However, since the shield appeared in previous games, the designers may have looked for a bird with a large head to match the already famous design. A shoebill would definitely fit that… bill.
If you’re wondering why some Loftwings’ tails are long and curly, rather than short and feathery, Hiraoka had an answer for that, too. “[T]he idea for their curled tails came from the designer’s pet shiba,” he explained. Shiba Inus are a popular Japanese dog breed and meme royalty. I personally think the tails were a nice touch, softening the shoebill’s primordial appearance. I wouldn’t want to get on the back of a giant, crocodile-eating dinosaur-bird unless it was also kind of cute.
It’s neat to see how some of the most unique game designs come from animals found in the real world. The next time I go to the zoo, I’ll be sure to take a picture with Handsome, their resident Loftwing.
